OF THE

BANEFUL INFLUENCE OF SO FREQUENTLY

WASHING DECKS

ON THE HEALTH OF BRITISH SEAMEN.

"Ex aquâ oritur aër, ex aëre morbus."

THE bad effects of humidity in our habitations, and moisture in the atmosphere, have been mentioned by almost all physicians of all ages, as being highly prejudicial to the human constitution. Heat and cold themselves, in warm blooded animals, are, in a great measure, regulated by the different changes the skin and lungs are capable of performing, in order to preserve an uniform degree of animal heat; and, hence, the most sudden transition is frequently not attended with any bad consequence.*

But moisture, when applied to the surface of the body, has the power of robbing it of a large portion of its heat, and leaving the extremities of the vessels, which terminate there, in a weak

"In passing from the cabin to the open air, and vice versa, the men were in the habit of undergoing a change of from 80° to 120o without any inflammatory disease being produced."-Parry's Voyage to the Arctic Circle.

ened and paralyzed state, thereby rendering them less vigorous in resisting the impressions of passing vicissitudes.*

Besides, moisture, when applied to the lungs and capillaries on the surface of the body, always produces cold, owing to the large quantity of heat it requires to convert water into vapour; and, in this way, the size of the blood-vessels on these extensive surfaces become lessened, whereby the balance of the circulation is destroyed, by being directed chiefly to the main trunks in the interior. The course of the blood being thus confined more to the centre, its impetus there, will, in consequence, become increased or déranged; and when there is the least disposition to disease in any internal organ, it is evident how much it will be aggravated, by thus receiving the sudden shock of the circulation from the surface to the centre. Indeed, it is by the injudicious application of water, that three fourths of all the diseases in the navy are induced.

It excites inflammations of every species and degree, from the simple catarrh to the severest pneumonia, and generates complaints of every kind, from the mildest functional derangement, to the most hopeless organic disease.

*It has been remarked before, that an animal might be frozen to death in the midst of summer, by repeatedly sprinkling ether upon him."

On board of His Majesty's ships, where several hundred people sometimes live together in so small a space, much attention to cleanliness and ventilation becomes absolutely necessary; and every Englishman, "from the prince to the peasant," is ready to exclaim, " cleanliness is next to godliness," and this is frequently the motto under which the advocates for diurnal irrigation take their stand; forgetting, that water, like wine, may be misused; and that it is easy and common to convert the greatest blessing into the veriest curse, by misapplication.

Science, however, has always been slow and wavering in its march, and every age and profession have their prejudices; and it is common to shake off one class, only to embrace another.

Thus, under the oscillation of public opinion, I am aware of the great difficulty there will be in attempting to effect any change on a system that has been long established: for, in endea vouring to introduce any improvement, a necessity is naturally implied, and thus the character or judgment of the individuals concerned becomes implicated.

They, on the other hand, set themselves in array against innovations, and regard with strong veneration, the customs, and even the prejudices of their puerile years; and the older

the individual is, the more obstinate will he be to relinquish his early conceptions, however erroneous they may be. Hence, Dr. Cullen used to say, "habit makes us believe and revere the grossest absurdities." But to return to my subject, viz. the consideration of the pernicious effects of so repeatedly WASHING DECKS on the health of British seamen: and first

Of Washing the Main and Quarter Decks.

WASHING DECKS in His Majesty's navy, is generally conducted under the direction of the lieutenant of the morning watch, while at sea, and by the first lieutenant, or, more frequently, the mate of the morning watch, in harbour. The watery operations most usually commence about half past four, or five o'clock A. M. and are generally finished just in time to go to breakfast a little before eight o'clock.

And as the quality of the officer is frequently estimated by the style in which he performs this piece of service, the greatest pains is, consequently, taken, on the part of the lieutenant or mate, to give complete satisfaction. When the ship is at anchor, all hands are turned up at half past four; but when she is at sea, the morn

ing watch only is called. Immediately the watch comes on deck, water is pumped from the main deck, and drawn from the head, and thrown on the main and quarter decks in the utmost profusion; and this is followed (or sometimes preceded) by buckets of sand being strewed on the decks, and the seamen, during the whole of this period, are compelled to work without their shoes and stockings, (although the thermometer may range at or below the freezing point) dragging the large holy stones, working the hand holy stones, pumping and carrying water, and, ultimately, using brooms and swabs to dry the decks, before going to breakfast.

The large holy stones, are stones, en verité, with smooth under surfaces, slung in the middle by a rope, and dragged backward and forward by means of six or eight stout hands; these stones (as may be anticipated) have the property of rendering the deck whiter and smoother, as well as of grinding every species of animal and vegetable matter into a fine pappy consistence.

The hand stones are used in the corners, and where the larger ones cannot be applied; and, during the whole of this process, the weight of the body is sustained on the naked knee, as they can only be conveniently used in that posture. It would be endless to enumerate the diseases